Improvement in fences



M. S. ZIMMERMAN. q

Fence.

No. 202,503. PatentedvApril16,l 878'.

WITNESSES INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

N.PETF RS, PHOTOLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. a c

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

MICHAEL S. ZIMMERMAN, OF INDIAN SPRING DISTRICT, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN FENCES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202.503, dated April16, 1878; application filed February 14, 1878.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVIIGHAEL S. ZIMMER- MAN, of Indian Spring District,in the county of Washington and State of Maryland, have invented a newand Improved Fence, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and durable fence,which may be conveniently taken apart for transportation, and easily andquickly put up, when desired.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a side view of a portable fenceconstructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section ofthe same, taken through the line a; m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A are the posts, and B the rails, of the fence. The posts A, as seenfrom the end of the fence, are slightly tapering, being wider at theirlower than at their upper ends, and each postis made in two halves orparts, A, meeting in the vertical center line b b, where, at suitableintervals, the post A is provided with inortises a, for receiving theends of two meeting-rails, B, one-half of each mortise being made ineach of the parts A, on either side of the center line b b.

O is a band driven down from the upper end of the post A, to surroundthe same and clamp its two parts A together.

D is a similar band for clamping together the lower ends of the twoparts A, and with them the wedges or ground-stakes E, which areinserted, one at each of the two opposite sides a of the post A, betweenthe latter and the end of the band D. The parts A being put together,and the rails B in the mortises a, the band 0 adjusted around the top ofthe post, and the band D around its lower end, above the lower rail B ofthe fence, the stakes E are then inserted between the band D and thepost A, and driven into the ground to secure and support the fence.

The posts Aare placed upon stones, as seen in Fig. 2, to keep theirlower ends from contact with the ground, and thus allow of their beingmade of the cheapest wood, if desired, without incurring the liabilityof decaying, which they would if driven into the ground. The band D isdrawn by the wedges E down upon the lower fence-rail, and holds the twoparts A of the fence-post A and the stakes E together simultaneouslywhile securing the fence to the ground.

I am aware that it is not new to make a post that extends into theground and is in two equal longitudinal sections, held together by a topand bottom clamp; but

What I claim is- The combination, with the postsections extending onlyto the ground or to a base-piece on the ground, and clamped togethernear both ends,of the two drive-stakes E, forced between the lower bandor clamp and the post, and thence into the ground, as shown anddescribed.

MICHAEL S. ZIMMERMAN.

Witnesses:

J OSEPH R. HAINES, JOHN MYERS.

